Hillcrest High School
International Baccalaureate
DIPLOMA CORE: CAS, TOK, and EE
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The DP Core
In addition to the above listed IB Curriculum, there are three important features unique to the DP Program and known as the DP Core–Theory of Knowledge; Creativity, Action, and Service; and the Extended Essay. These elements are required for completion of the Diploma and contribute greatly to the overall education of the student. All of these components work to develop the student into a life-long learner (Learner Profile)
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Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
This is a two semester course with the first semester taken at the end of the junior year and the second semester taken at the beginning of the senior year. It is an interdisciplinary course designed to stimulate critical reflection on the knowledge gained inside and outside the classroom. Students examine the basis of knowledge as well as how we learn. They learn how to be aware of subjective and ideological biases, and how to analyze, contrast, and compare. They learn tolerance and appreciation for the ideas and perspectives of other people and cultures. The course also concentrates on concurrency of learning between all the IB courses. This is a course unique to the IB program.
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Extended Essay (EE)
The Extended Essay is an opportunity for each student to choose a topic of interest to research. There are over 35 subjects with an infinite number of topics and questions to research. It is truly an opportunity for the students to find an area of high interest to them that has potential for research. The purpose of the essay is to show the ability to research and write in the style expected of university-bound students. The essay itself is of a length of 4000 words maximum. This project is monitored through the ToK Class (no separate class required).
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Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)
The goal of this component is to keep students involved in their school and community outside the IB classroom. These activities work toward the stated goal of IB to foster responsible, compassionate citizens. Students may participate in performing arts, sports, student clubs, leadership, debate, service projects... just about anything outside the IB classroom which can be shown to develop creativity, physical activity, and/or service. Students are expected to continue in these activities throughout the two years in the IB program and present reflections on their experiences. These activities are monitored through interviews with the CAS Coordinator (no separate class required).
CAREER CORE: PPS, LD, SL, & RP
The CP Core
In addition to the above listed CP Curriculum, there are four important features unique to the CP and known as the CP Core–the Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) course (formerly Approaches to Learning), the Reflective Project (RP), Service Learning (SL), and Language Development (LD). These elements are required for completion of the CP and contribute greatly to the overall education of the student. All of these components work to develop the student into a life-long learner (Learner Profile)
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Personal and Professional Skills (PPS)
This is a two semester course with the first semester taken at the end of the junior year and the second semester taken at the beginning of the senior year. The Approaches to Learning course emphasizes the development of transferable skills needed to operate successfully in society. There is an emphasis in the development of the practical skills of Thinking, Communication, Intercultural Understanding, and Personal Development in the Global Contexts of Communities, Technologies, Environments, and Workplaces.
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Reflective Project (RP)
This is an independent research project which investigates, analyzes, and presents an Ethical dilemma associated with the student's chosen Career Pathway. The student has several different choices in the manner of presentation of the project (paper, website, film, power point presentation, etc.), each with it's own limits as to maximum size. This project is monitored through the PPS/ATL Class (no separate class required).
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Service Learning (SL)
Students will work with Business and Community partners in identifying service needs (global in a local context), preferably related to their own career pathway. They will plan projects to help address the needs, then organize and execute the projects. They will then reflect on the projects and the results for the individual, community, and themselves. These projects are monitored through interviews with the CAS Coordinator (no separate class required).
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Language Development (LD)
Each student will develop ability in a language other than their own mother tongue. Emphasis will be on vocabulary needed for their career pathway. This can be accomplished through an IB World Language Course, regular language courses offered at Hillcrest, or through tutoring or language development courses offered outside the school system, including online or commercially available language development courses. Progress is demonstrated through a language portfolio and monitored by the World Language Teachers at Hillcrest.